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“It would be so great if somehow I could just suck all this fat out of my body!” My guess is that millions of people around the world have thought up that very phrase, myself included. Well, it CAN happen. The procedure is called liposuction.

In this article, I will introduce liposuction. I will also discuss several ways that the procedure has been improved over the years. Further, I will explore how long liposuction results will last. I will also touch base on the cost of liposuction. Finally, I will mention the types of people that should not turn to liposuction.

The term “lipo” actually means fatty tissue. Therefore, the definition of liposuction is literally “to suck fat”. Liposuction is the most common cosmetic operation performed in the United States. About 400,000 people undergo liposuction every year! Liposuction, one again, is the surgical removal of fat from specific and targeted areas of the body. Most patients request fat to be removed from one of the following areas:

• The abdomen
• The buttocks
• The hips
• The thighs
• The knees
• The chin
• The upper arms
• The back
• The calves

The liposuction procedure consists of two main steps. The first is to break up the undesired fatty tissue that is to be removed. The second is to actually remove the fatty tissue. The instrument used to remove the fat is a cylindrical, hollow tube called a “canula”. The canula is inserted under the skin, and a high-pressure vacuum is activated. The procedure of liposuction has always been relatively safe, but has still gone through several improvements over the years.

In the early days of liposuction, it was necessary for the patient to be put under completely during the procedure. This means that the surgeon had to move the patient if more than one area was to be worked on. With the advancement of tumescent liposuction, the patient only needs to be placed under local anesthetic, meaning that it is possible for the patient to shift positions during the liposuction procedure. This, in the long run, allows for more precise sculpting of the patient’s targeted areas. Tumescent liposuction also fills the fatty layer of skin prior to removing excess fat. This causes the tissue to become swollen and firm, making removal much easier.

Another amazing addition to the liposuction procedure is ultrasonic liposuction. This converts the unwanted fat into oil prior to removal by way of ultrasonic energy. The fat is much easier to remove in this oil-like form. Ultrasonic liposuction also allows the surgeon much more latitude in removing the fat.

Even though the previous two advancements in liposuction each made an amazing difference, now there is an even easier way to perform the procedure. Laser liposuction (also known as SmartLipo) melts the unwanted fat instead of sucking out whole solids. This choice seems to be the best all around for anyone considering the procedure. No stitches are required and the patient’s recovery time is usually relatively shorter. Also, the cost of laser liposuction is either the same as, or less than, the cost of traditional liposuction.

Speaking of liposuction prices, the cost of the procedure can range anywhere from $2,000 to $9,000. This depends on several factors, including:

• What surgeon the patient chooses.
• What area of the body the patient wants to target.
• How many areas on the body that the patient wants to target.

When choosing a liposuction doctor, the patient should go by how many years that doctor has been in business. Researching the surgeon is always a wise decision. Take caution, choosing a surgeon that is low in price may be the most expensive decision in the long run if additional procedures are needed to fix what a phony doctor messed up.

If liposuction seems a bit too pricey, there are several alternatives one can choose from. The most popular is a procedure called lipo dissolve. This procedure is done by injecting PLDC (phosphatidychone deoxycholate) into the unwanted fatty tissue. The fat cells absorb the PLCD and become swollen and hard. Afterward, the hardened cells break down and are excreted through the body. This process takes several weeks. The other alternative is to eat healthy and exercise. Now, this seems like an impossible task, when only 50 years ago, it was the only choice. For some people, liposuction seems to be the quick fix that will make them thin and beautiful “forever”. Sadly, this is not the case.

People should not turn to liposuction if one of the following factors apply:

• The person is not a risk taker. Liposuction is an effective procedure. However, complications can arise with liposuction just like any other surgical procedure. Also, long term affects from liposuction are not known.
• The person is trying to lose excess weight. Liposuction is for sculpting problem areas, not for losing weight. If the person does not follow a healthy eating schedule and exercise regularly after liposuction, the fat will return.
• The person’s skin is not elastic. Skin that will not shrink after liposuction will sag. In the end, the surgeon will determine if the skin is elastic enough to recover from the procedure.

The results from liposuction can be permanent if the patient maintains a healthy diet and exercise schedule after the surgery. However, if the patient is expecting to keep that slender body without putting any effort forth, they are sadly mistaken.